Thymus vulgaris.   Garden thyme, Common thyme   Family: Labiatae         
Thyme is a very useful culinary herb.
PART USED: Leaves and flowering tops
TASTE AND ODOR: Aromatic
ACTIONS
GROUP: Aromatics
1. Antispasmodic.[1,2,5]
2. Expectorant.[1,2,5] Antitussive.[1,5]
3. Astringent.[1,2]
4. Bechic.
5. Secreto-motor effect.[1,2]
6. Carminative.[1,5]
7. Bacteriocidal.[1] Anthelmintic.[1] Antiseptic.[5]
INDICATIONS
1. Tonsillitis.[1,2] Laryngitis.[1,2] Tracheitis. Bronchitis.[1,2,5] Whooping cough.[5] Asthma.[1,2] Pertussis.[1,2] Cough.[5]
2. Anorexia. Dyspepsia.[1,2] Chronic gastritis.[1,2] Childrens diarrhea.[1,2]
3. Hysteria nightmares. Headache. Neuralgic pain.
4. Leukorrhea.
5. Rheumatic conditions
6. Enuresis in children.[1]
7. Wounds. Ulcers.
Local- As gargle for throat infections such as tonsillitis.[1]
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Pertussis.[1] Bronchitis.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Asthma, use with Lobelia, Ephedra.
- Pertussis, use with Wild cherry bark, White squill, White horehound.
PREPARATIONS  3X/day
Dried herb  1-4 g,[1,2] or by infusion[1] 20-80 ml.[1,2]
Fluid extract (BPC1949)  0.6-4 ml.[1,2,5]1:1 in 45% alcohol.[4]
Elixir of Thyme (BPC1949) 4-8 ml.[1,5]
Tincture 1:5 in 45% alcohol 2-6 ml.[1,2]

PART USED: Steam distilled essential oil
ACTIONS
1. Antimicrobial.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Bronchial coughs, cold, congestion and associated shortness of breath- apply to the chest and back with a massage oil blend or use in a steam inhalation.[1]
2. Laryngitis and sore throat- use as a gargle- Do not swallow.[1]
PRECAUTIONS
This oil may be irritating to sensitive skin.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Do not use during pregnancy. Not to be used by persons suffering from epilepsy or high blood pressure.[1]
PREPARATIONS
Combined in massage blend.
Steam inhalation.
Gargle- do not swallow.
Thyme essential oil is a top to middle note, with a powerful smell.[1]
Thyme oil BPC1949 0.05-0.3 ml.[5]
ORIGIN: Spain and Italy.
DESCRIPTION: Small evergreen shrub. Small mushy herb; leaves opposite, ellipstical, greenish grey, shortly stalked, those of thyme are up to about 6 mm long and 2 mm broad.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
Most of the activity is thought to be due to the thymol, which is expectorant and antiseptic. Thymol and carvacrol are spasmolytic; the flavonoid faction has also been shown to have a potent effect on the smooth muscle of guineapig trachea and ileum.[1]
References
[1] Van den Broucke, C.O. et al. (1983) Pharm Weekbl. 5(1), 9

Thymus vulgaris (thyme) inhibits proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion of human colorectal cancer cells.
Al-Menhali A, Al-Rumaihi A, Al-Mohammed H, Al-Mazrooey H, Al-Shamlan M, AlJassim M, Al-Korbi N, Eid AH.
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Its prognosis remains poor for patients with several grades of this disease. This underscores the need for alternative modalities, such as herbal medicines, to treat this disease. A commonly used plant that appears to be of high medicinal value is Thymus vulgaris L. However, the effects of this plant on the malignant behavior of human CRC cells remains poorly investigated. This study was undertaken to determine the anticancer efficacy of T. vulgaris extract (TVE) in CRC cells. Our results show that TVE inhibits proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion. This decreased proliferation was concomitant with increased apoptotic cell death as evidenced by increased caspase3/7 activity. Moreover, TVE also decreased adhesion to fibronectin in a concentration-dependent manner. The migratory and invasive capacities of HCT116 cells were significantly inhibited by TVE. Taken together, these data suggest that the TVE inhibits malignant phenotype of colon cancer cells. Therefore, T. vulgaris could have an anticancer effect and that some of its bioactive compounds may prove to be effective treatment modalities for human CRC.
PMID: 25379783 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2013.3121  J Med Food. 2015 Jan;18(1):54-9. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.3121. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cytotoxicity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil towards human oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.
Sertel S, Eichhorn T, Plinkert PK, Efferth T.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) accounts for 2% to 3% of all malignancies and has a high mortality rate. The majority of anticancer drugs are of natural origin. However, it is unknown whether the medicinal plant Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme) is cytotoxic towards head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Cytotoxicity of thyme essential oil was investigated on the HNSCC cell line, UMSCC1. The IC50 of thyme essential oil extract was 369 µg/ml. Moreover, we performed pharmacogenomics analyses.
RESULTS:
Genes involved in the cell cycle, cell death and cancer were involved in the cytotoxic activity of thyme essential oil at the transcriptional level. The three most significantly regulated pathways by thyme essential oil were interferon signaling, N-glycan biosynthesis and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling.
CONCLUSION:
Thyme essential oil inhibits human HNSCC cell growth. Based on pharmacogenomic approaches, novel insights into the molecular mode of anticancer activity of thyme are presented.
PMID: 21273584   Anticancer Res. 2011 Jan;31(1):81-7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Thymus vulgaris essential oil: chemical composition and antimicrobial activity
O Boruga, C Jianu, C Misca, I Golet, AT Gruia, and FG Horhat
Abstract
The study was designed to determine the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris cultivated in Romania. The essential oil was isolated in a yield of 1.25% by steam distillation from the aerial part of the plant and subsequently analyzed by GC-MS. The major components were p-cymene (8.41%), ?-terpinene (30.90%) and thymol (47.59%). Its antimicrobial activity was evaluated on 7 common food-related bacteria and fungus by using the disk diffusion method. The results demonstrate that the Thymus vulgaris essential oil tested possesses strong antimicrobial properties, and may in the future represent a new source of natural antiseptics with applications in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
J Med Life. 2014; 7(Spec Iss 3): 56–60.
PMCID: PMC4391421 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidative effect of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) in sunflower oil.
Zaborowska Z, Przygonski K, Bilska A.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Lipid oxidation is a main problem during food processing, storage and consumption leading to losses of quality, stability, safety and nutritive value. Antioxidants have been used to prevent oxidation changes and off - flavor development in food products. Aim of the research was to evaluate antioxidative effect of thyme ethanol extract on sunflower oil during its storage in different temperature conditions. Oil samples were stored in darkness at 4°C, 18°C, 38°C.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Samples of thyme (thymus vulgaris) were purchased at a local pharmacy in Poznan, Poland and sunflower oil was acquired from a local supermarket. Thyme extract was characterized by total polyphenol content. Antioxidant activity was estimated with use of DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging methods. Ethanol extract of thyme at 1% level was added to sunflower oil. Peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AV), totox value (TxV) and fatty acids (FA) content were taken as parameters for evaluation of effectiveness of thyme extract in stabilization of sunflower oil.
RESULTS:
High polyphenol content, DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging activity of ethanol thyme extract were evaluated. Results from different parameters were in agreement with other researchers, suggesting the antioxidant effect of thyme on antioxidant stability. Results show that thyme extract prolonged stability of sunflower oil and it may be a potent antioxidant for its stabilization.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ethanol thyme extract may be used as a natural antioxidant to prolong stability of oils.
PMID: 22744949  Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment. 2012 Jul-Sep;11(3):283-91. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antifungal activity of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil and thymol against moulds from damp dwellings.
Segvic Klaric M, Kosalec I, Mastelic J, Piecková E, Pepeljnak S.
Abstract
AIMS:
To characterize antifungal activities of essential oil of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and pure thymol, as comparative substance, on different mould species isolated from damp dwellings.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Fifty samples of wall scrapes were collected from damp dwellings in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The members of the following mould genera were recovered from the samples: Aspergillus (44%), Penicillium (18%) Alternaria, Ulocladium, Absidia and Mucor (8%) Cladosporium, Trichoderma and Rhizopus (6%), and Chaetomium (2%). Two strains of Stachybotrys chartarum were isolated from damp dwellings in Slovakia. Antifungal activities of the thyme essential oil, which contains p-cymene (36.5%), thymol (33.0%) and 1,8-cineole (11.3%) as main components, and pure thymol were determined by the dilution method and exposure to vaporous phase of the oil. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of both thymol and essential oil were bellow 20 microg ml(-1), except for Mucor spp. (50.20 microg ml(-1)). Thymol exhibited approximately three-times stronger inhibition than essential oil of thyme. The vaporous phase of the thyme essential oil (82 microg l(-1)) in glass chambers strongly suppressed the sporulation of moulds during 60 days of exposure.
CONCLUSION:
The thyme essential oil possesses a wide range spectrum of fungicidal activity. The vaporous phase of the oil exhibited long-lasting suppressive activity on moulds from damp dwellings.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:
Essential oil of thyme and thymol could be used for disinfection of mouldy walls in the dwellings in low concentration.
PMID: 17209812 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2006.02032.x  Lett Appl Microbiol. 2007 Jan;44(1):36-42. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative effect of thymus vulgaris and ibuprofen on primary dysmenorrhea: A triple-blind clinical study
Hajar Salmalian, MSc, Roshanak Saghebi, MD,*, Ali Akbar Moghadamnia, PhD, Ali Bijani, MD, Mahbobeh Faramarzi, PhD, Fatemeh Nasiri Amiri, MSc, Fatemeh Bakouei, MSc, Fereshte Behmanesh, MSc, and Reza Bekhradi, MD
Abstract
Background: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common medical problems in gynecology causing several problems in the personal and social life of women. This study was conducted to compare the effect of thymus vulgaris and ibuprofen on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea
Methods: This clinical study was conducted on 84 students of Babol University of Medical Sciences with primary dysmenorrhea. The students were randomly assigned to three groups receiving thymus vulgaris, ibuprofen and placebo. In all three groups, with the beginning of pain, 200 mg capsules and 25 drops of essential oil were given every 6 hours for two consecutive cycles. Pain intensity used the visual scale before and one hour after each dose for 48 hour after starting medication. The data were collected and analyzed. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (www.irct.ir) with registration number ID: IRCT201101245683N1
Results: The mean age of participants was 20.5±1.8 years. Both thymus vulgaris and ibuprofen were effective to reduce the pain severity of dysmenorrhea. Before treatment, the mean pain intensity in thymus vulgaris, ibuprofen and placebo groups were 6.57±2.02, 5.30±2.23 and 6.18±1.78, respectively and after treatment decreased to 1.21±1.06, 1.48±1.62 and 3.54±2.26, respectively. Reduction of pain severity was not statistically significant between the two medications, however it was significant for each drug compared with placebo (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results suggest that thymus vulgaris as well as ibuprofen can be effective in reducing the severity of pain and spasm in primary dysmenorrhea.
Caspian J Intern Med. 2014 Spring; 5(2): 82–88.   PMCID: PMC3992233 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme), Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) and propolis hydroalcoholic extracts versus systemic glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in balb/c mice.
Nilforoushzadeh MA1, Shirani-Bidabadi L, Zolfaghari-Baghbaderani A, Saberi S, Siadat AH, Mahmoudi M.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES:
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by sand flies. Many investigations are performed to find an effective and safe treatment for leishmaniasis. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of herbal extracts of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) and Achillea millefolium (Yarrow), propolis hydroalcoholic extract and systemic glucantime against cutaneous leishmaniasis in Balb/c mice.
METHODS:
A total of 45 mice were randomised into five groups each including nine mice. They were treated with pure ethanol 70 degrees, systemic glucantime, Achillea millefolium hydroalcoholic extract, Thymus vulgaris hydroalcoholic extract and propolis hydroalcoholic extract for six weeks. The statistical tests including student t-test were used for analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, ver 13.00.
RESULTS:
Mean of ulcer size reduction were -17.66, -22.57, 43.29, 36.09 and 43.77% for the alcohol, glucantime, yarrow, thyme and propolis groups, respectively. The results were suggestive that Thymus vulgaris, Achillea millefolium and propolis hydroalcoholic extracts were significantly more effective in reduction of ulcer size as compared with glucantime (p = 0.006, 0.002 and 0.008, respectively).
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION:
Our results are suggestive that Thymus vulgaris, Achillea millefolium and propolis extracts are effective for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice. Regarding these results, we suggest that efficacy of these extracts alone or in combination are evaluated against human cutaneous leishmaniasis as a randomized clinical trial.
PMID: 19248657  J Vector Borne Dis. 2008 Dec;45(4):301-6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov